[Identification of a group A arbovirus isolated in the Far East].

Strains Nos. 296 and 260 isolated from Aedes vexans and Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the USSR Far East in 1971 and 1973, respectively, were identified. The size of the viruses was found to be about 50 nm. Both strains were pathogenic for 2--3-day-old and 3--4-week-old mice by the intracerebral, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal routes, agglutinated goose red blood cells at the optimal pH 6.0. The strains were identical to each other and by their antigenic structure were classified as Semliki Forest virus.